Red Planet Rising

Welcome to Mars!

A Traveler's Guide to Navigating Neosphere City

25

JUL/17

Hello! I am your local Hybrid Automated Liaison. Please call me HAL. The Department of Commerce sent me to conduct a survey measuring how familiar the local population is with Mars and all of its unique attributes. For example, did you know that the first colony of Mars was founded in 2135 and named Greenfield? This year marks the centennial celebration of humanity's permanent residence on the Red Planet.

Have you recently moved to NeoSphere City? The Martian capital, affectionately called "The Fishbowl" by the local populace, is a marvel of modern technology. NeoSphere City currently has nine sectors. Eight sectors are all organized around the Central Sector which houses such notable landmarks as the Capitol building, the Martian Peacekeeping Department's First Precinct, the Nebra Tower, the tallest building on Mars and home to Stukgar Industries, Planum Primus, the oldest habitation block in the city, The Emere Gardens, Neosite Station, the first metropolitan transportation hub, Hightower Shopping District, and the statue of Edris Hjalla, the first president of Mars.

I identify you as a registered member of the Civic Defense Force, commonly referred to as "Sweepers." Is that correct? The Sweepers have a recent history dating back to just 2216 when Connor Strickland restructured the Martian Peacekeeping Department into a tactical oversight initiative that authorized delegated parties such as neighborhood watch groups, contracted agents, and civic minded citizens to conduct basic policing activities after completing a Peacekeeper training course.

Are you aware that Neosphere City has the largest and most widely integrated public transportation system on Mars? While personal vehicles are common in the city proper, most belong to independent representatives of taxi services. The Fishbowl Levi-tram is an above ground train system connecting over 100 travel ports all across Neosphere City. These services make Neosphere City the most accessible place on Mars!

On a scale of 1 to 10, how connected are you to Martian culture in Neosphere City? Martians commonly comment that the unforgiving nature of the planet is reflected in the sports, art, and entertainment available on Mars. The most popular sport by far is Bomberball. The sport draws its brutal roots from the Gang Wars of 2166 to 2174. Created by gangs as a means of terrorizing rivals and captives, the sport, a low gravity competition based on rugby and mixed martial arts, eventually evolved into the tamer version that we know today. Behind Bomberball in popularity is unibike racing and pit fighting. Even the artwork showcases the raw nature of Mars. The most well known artist is Rene Claude, who is renowned for his depiction of ordinary citizens, settings, and objects in a state of struggle. His style has been characterized as Broken-Realism.

As you can see, distractions of every kind are available on Mars, including virtual. Cyber Dens are scattered across the city and offer the client a customized virtual experience for a price. Growing in popularity, Cyber Dens offer an escape from the challenging life colonists face on Mars. There is also a vibrant restaurant culture with foods mixing in influences from all cultures on Earth. Supplies may be rationed, but Martians are familiar with making the best from what they have.

How do you identify yourself, citizen? The population is incredibly diverse, with ethnicities mixed from all of Earth's genetic background. With modern advances, the local population has begun to display new and fascinating variances. As technology becomes more integrated into daily living, cybernetic implants allow users access to a wide range of benefits. Cybernetic limb and organ replacement has revolutionized the market of prosthetics and medicine.

In addition, early in Mars' history, it was fashionable for individuals planning to be parents to genetically design their children for the best chance of success on an inhospitable environment. The popularity of those practices began to fall out of favor once the youth of Mars adapted genetic manipulation for cosmetic purposes, creating a new counter-culture filled with pointy ears, colored skin, stripes, fangs, and scales. The inclusion of cybernetically and genetically augmented humans in society established a new perspective of the human condition commonly termed transhumanism. Today, transhumans are an active part of Neosphere City society even as the access to and practice of cybernetic and genetic augmentation services decline.

Thank you for participating in this survey. Results can be accessed through the Department of Commerce public cybersite upon completion of the research. I hope you have found my information services useful. As your local HAL unit, I will be available to you as a resource should you have a need for further assistance. Feel free to access me at your nearest Civic Information Hub.